Bradley Manning’s attorney condemns ‘criminal’ jail conditions

RTnews – Jailed US soldier Bradley Manning’s attorney David Coombs gave a press conference in Washington D.C. on Monday.

It was a first publicly spoken statement from the whistleblower’s defense since Manning was arrested in May 2010 in Iraq on suspicion that he leaked thousands of military reports, diplomatic cables and videos.

The attorney accused military commanders of keeping his client in inhumane conditions in Quantico jail, where he was held for nine month before being moved to Fort Leavenworth.

“Brad’s treatment at Quantico will forever be etched, I believe, in our nation’s history as a disgraceful moment in time. Not only was it stupid and counterproductive – it was criminal.”

Manning was kept in cell for almost 23 hours a day as he was alleged to be a suicide risk. Quantico personnel ignored repeated recommendations from psychologists and psychiatrists that such treatment was not required.

The attorney thanked the media for their role in Manning’s transfer to Fort Leavenworth.

“Your actions resulted in Brad being moved from Quantico to Fort Leavenworth, make no mistake about that. And with your actions, the draconian conditions that he lived under for nine month came to an end. ”

Hearings on the case started at Fort Meade last week. Manning’s defense now is seeking to prove that Bradley Manning was subjected to unlawful pre-trial punishment.